Manchester City vs. Chelsea: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Manchester City can tighten their grip on the Premier League title by beating last season's champions Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City are 16 points clear at the top after beating Arsenal 3-0 away on Thursday. The Carabao Cup winners are playing an irresistible brand of free-flowing football, but they will still be wary of Chelsea.
It was Chelsea who won comfortably at the Etihad last season, besting the Citizens 3-1 back in December 2016 to add momentum to the former's title bid. The Blues proved lethal on the break and still have the players to cause the champions elect problems.
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Here are the schedule and viewing details, followed by a preview and a look at the team news:
Date: Sunday, March 4
Time: 4 p.m. GMT, 11 a.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports PL, NBCSN
Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Sports App, fubo Premier
City should have the psychological edge, since they beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge back in September. The lone goal came from creative talisman Kevin De Bruyne, who has developed at a rapid rate since leaving Chelsea in 2014.
De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva and Leroy Sane are a classy quartet who make sure striker Sergio Aguero is supplied with chances. However, City would welcome the pace of Raheem Sterling.
The winger missed both wins over Arsenal, but he could return for the visit of Chelsea, according to manager Pep Guardiola, per Vaishali Bhardwaj of the London Evening Standard.
Bernardo Silva scored on Thursday in Sterling's absence, while Ilkay Gundogan produced a composed display standing in for Fernandinho, who limped off during the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
Defensively, Guardiola may still rely on Brazilian powerhouse Danilo to fill in at left-back while Fabian Delph finishes his suspension.
Chelsea are close to full strength, but midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and defender David Luiz are out, per BBC Sport.
It means manager Antonio Conte still has wide forwards Eden Hazard and Willian, both of whom scored in Manchester last season, available. What Conte needs is for misfiring striker Alvaro Morata to find his range in front of goal again.
The Spaniard hasn't scored since Boxing Day, as noted by Michael Potts of the Daily Express. At his best, though, Morata has the pace and power to decide any game.
Chelsea were unfortunate to lose 2-1 at Manchester United last time out after outplaying the Red Devils. The Blues will need to be even better to get a result this week, with City refusing to relent in their impressive swagger to the title.
